Spa industry veterans interested in acting as mentors to up-and-coming leaders have until 31 October to apply to be part of the Global Mentorship Programme, which launched this year with its first group of mentors and mentees.

Senior spa directors with more than five years of experience can apply online at www.mentorshipevidence.com. The programme hopes to attract 50 mentors and 100 mentees in 2016; of the initial 17 mentors who took part in the programme in 2015, 14 are continuing their roles, and the initiative has already received 20 new mentor applications.

The programme is led by co-chairs Jean-Guy de Gabriac, CEO of Tip Touch International spa consultancy, and Deborah Smith, principal of Smith Club & Spa Specialists, a US-based wellness consultancy.

“As a spa consultant and trainer for over 14 years, I have seen that what makes a good spa great is essentially the vibrant energy that the spa manager shares with his or her team,” de Gabriac told Spa Opportunities.

“When spa teams feel empowered and receive more than a paycheck, but a sense of purpose, then you know for sure that clients – and team members – are going through a transformational experience. Usually enlightened spa managers have a much higher retention rate of staff and loyalty rate of guests than average.”

Any spa manager with more than two years of experience and an eagerness to grow into a spa leader is encouraged to apply as a mentee, said de Gabriac.

Mentees in the programme have been most interested in learning leadership and management skills, strategic and business planning skills, human resources, and priority management, but a pre-questionnaire will help ensure good matches are made between mentors and mentees.

As a result of the inaugural programme, de Gabriac said that 86 per cent of the participants felt more motivated after the programme and 78 per cent felt more productive.

“This is exactly why we launched the programme,” he said.

While some mentors joined the programme because they had benefited from the advice of mentors in their own lives and wanted to give back, de Gabriac said, others never had a mentor but realised how having one could boost a career, so they volunteered.

“Mentors give their time and their expertise at no charge, but all feel recharged being part of this initiative,” he added.

As one of the Global Wellness Institute’s initiatives, de Gabriac said the programme is expected to grow, and will present some “exciting news” at the Global Wellness Summit on 13-15 November in Mexico City.